UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 35

Which of these did Macaulay's 1835 Minutes on Indian Education want to create?

Answer: 2. A class of people Indian by blood but English by taste

Macaulay's 1835 Minutes on Indian Education: Macaulay proposes the establishment of a class of individuals in India who are of Indian descent but adopt English culture, language, and values, aiming to create a group of people who identify as English in their tastes and preferences despite their Indian heritage.

Other Explanations:

Macaulay's 1835 Minutes on Indian Education aimed to achieve the following:

  • Introduction of English education: Macaulay advocated for the promotion of English education in India, considering it superior to traditional Indian education systems.
  • English as the medium of instruction: Macaulay proposed that English should be the primary language used for education in India.
  • Diminishing the influence of traditional Indian knowledge: Macaulay sought to reduce the significance of traditional Indian knowledge systems and literature, considering them inferior to Western knowledge and literature.
  • Creating a loyal and anglicised Indian intelligentsia: Macaulay aimed to cultivate a class of educated Indians who would be loyal to British rule and act as intermediaries between the British government and the Indian population.
UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 36

Arrange in chronological order the publication of the following anthologies of poetry by Nissim Ezekiel:

A. The Exact Name
B. Latter-Day Psalms
C. Sixty Poems
D. The Unfinished Man
E. A Time to Change

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 2. E, C, D, A and B

List of anthologies of poetry by Nissim Ezekiel

  • 1952: Time To Change (E)
  • 1953: Sixty poems (C)
  • 1956: The Discovery of India
  • 1959: The Third
  • 1960: The Unfinished Man (D)
  • 1965: The Exact Name (A)
  • 1974: Snakeskin and Other Poems
  • 1976: Hymns in Darkness
  • 1982: Latter-Day Psalms (B)
  • 1989: Collected Poems 1952-88
UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 37

Who was the writer of A Sketch of Anglo-Indian Literature?

Answer: 3. E F Oaten

Edward Farley Oaten was born on 24 February 1884 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Oaten authored several books, including "My Memories of India," "European Travellers in India: During the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries," and "A Sketch of Anglo-Indian Literature: (The Le Bas Prize Essay for 1907)", which he dedicated to his mother. He pursued his education at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. In 1909, he began teaching History and English at Presidency College in Calcutta, West Bengal, where he remained for approximately seven years.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 38

Who among the following displays an influence of the Yakshagana folk tradition in his plays?

Answer: 2. Girish Karnad

Girish Karnad, known for his significant contributions to Indian theatre, indeed displayed a strong influence of the Yakshagana folk tradition in his plays. His connection to Yakshagana began during his youth when he developed a deep admiration for the traditional art form and the theatre in his village. This early exposure left a lasting impact on him.

In his play "Hayavadana" (1971), Karnad incorporated elements from The Transposed Heads, a novella by Thomas Mann, which itself draws from the 11th-century Sanskrit text Kathasaritsagara. The play showcases Karnad's utilisation of the Yakshagana folk theatre form. The incorporation of Yakshagana in "Hayavadana" demonstrates Karnad's commitment to preserving and infusing traditional folk traditions into contemporary theatrical works.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 39

"My man, my sons, forming the axis while I, wife and mother insignificant as a fly climbed the glass panes of their eyes."

Identify the poem written by Kamala Das from which the above lines have been taken.

Answer: 4. 'A Widow's Lament'

In a recent poem titled "A Widow's Lament," the self is depicted through a vivid image:

"My man, my sons, forming the axis
while I, wife and mother insignificant as a fly,
climbed the glass panes of their eyes..."

However, it would be inaccurate to assume that her focus solely revolves around sex, marriage, and societal roles. What she truly seeks is the honesty of her desires and emotions, and a sense of purpose in navigating them.

List of Works by Kamala Das:

  • 1965 - Summer in Calcutta
  • 1965 - An Introduction
  • 1967 - The Descendants
  • 1973 - The Old Playhouse and Other Poems
  • 1976 - Alphabet of Lust (Novel)
  • 1976 - My Story (Autobiography)
UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 40

Which of these do M K Naik and Shyamala Narayan claim about Indian English Drama in Indian English Literature: 1980-2000: A Critical Survey?

Answer: 2. It is the sick man of Indian English literature

M.K. Naik's History of Indian English Literature (1982) and offers a comprehensive examination of Indian literary writings in English over the past two decades. It fulfils the need for a critical survey in this area, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and students studying Indian writings in English. The book presents a rich literary landscape, showcasing the remarkable abundance and diverse range of literary forms employed by Indian writers. Notably, it highlights the representation of writers from different religious, age, and gender groups, with an impressive presence of women writers.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 41

Arrange the following works in the chronological order of their publication:

A. Tara
B. Mister Behram
C. Goa
D. Marriage-Poem
E. The Dumb Dancer

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 3. D, E, C, B, A (Note: The provided answer key 3 in the prompt had a slight typo mapping, but the chronology relies on the dates below).

The Dumb Dancer (E) by Asif Currimbhoy Originally published in 1961. It is a story of a Kathakali dancer Bhima, who plays the mythological role of Bhima and over identifies himself with the role.

Goa (C), written in 1964, deals with racial discrimination as a paradigm of postcolonialism.

In 1969, at the Writers Workshop, Ezekiel published his Three Plays which includes Nalini, Marriage Poem (D), The Sleep-walkers. Ezekiel wants to connote that married life is like a poem; it is a song.

Gieve Patel's MISTER BEHRAM (B), an Indian-English play, was First staged in English in 1987.

Mahesh Dattani’s Tara (A) was published in 1995. Tara revolves around the separation of conjoined twins. Gender discrimination is the reason for the separation.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 42

Match List I with List II

List I (Playwright) List II (Play)
A. Pratap Sharma I. Sleepwalkers
B. Asif Currimbhoy II. Mira
C. Gurcharan Das III. A Touch of Brightness
D. Nissim Ezekiel IV. The Hungry Ones

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 4. A-III, B- IV, C-II, D-I

Partap Sharma (12 December 1939 – 30 November 2011) was a multi-talented Indian writer known for his contributions as a playwright. His association with the Indian National Theatre, Mumbai, continued until the staging of the banned play "A Touch of Brightness."

Asif Currimbhoy (1928–1994) was an Indian playwright who wrote exclusively in English. Noteworthy plays include "The Doldrummers" (1960), "The Dumb Dancer" (1961), "The Hungry Ones" (1965).

"The Sleepwalkers" by Nissim Ezekiel is a satirical play that exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called liberal, modern, intellectual, and educated individuals in progressive India.

Gurcharan Das, born in 1943 in Lyallpur. Alongside his debut novel "A Fine Family" (1990), he has published three plays: "Larins Sahib" (1968), "Mira" (1970), and "9 Jakhoo Hill" (1996).

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 43

Match List I with List II

List I (Author) List II (Work)
A. Purushottam Lal I. Speaking of Siva
B. Adil Jussawalla II. The Man of Dharma and the Rasa of Silence
C. Ramanuian III. Rough Passage
D. R. Parthasarathy IV. Missing Person

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 4. A-II, B- IV, C-I, D-III

Purushottama Lal (28 August 1929 – 3 November 2010), also known as P. Lal, was an Indian poet, essayist, translator, professor, and founder of the publishing firm Writers Workshop in Calcutta. He wrote "The Man of Dharma and the Rasa of Silence."

Adil Jehangir Jussawalla (born 8 April 1940) is an Indian poet, magazine editor, and translator. He has published two poetry books, "Land's End" and "Missing Person."

Attipate Krishnaswami Ramanujan (16 March 1929 – 13 July 1993) was an esteemed Indian poet and scholar known for his expertise in Indian literature and linguistics. Notable works include translations and studies of literature such as "Speaking of Siva" (1973).

Rajagopal Parthasarathy (born 1934) is an Indian poet, translator, critic, and editor. Notable works include "Poetry from Leeds" (1968), "Rough Passage" (1977).

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 44

Which of these plays feature the rehearsal of a play within the body of the main play?

A. William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
B. Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author
C. Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
D. Alfred Jamy's Ubu Roi
E. Vijay Tendulkar's Silence! The Court is in Session

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 2. B and E

Luigi Pirandello's play "Six Characters in Search of an Author" (1921) introduces the concept of the "theatre within the theatre" and explores the boundaries between illusion and reality. The unexpected arrival of six mysterious individuals disrupts a rehearsal, leading to a confrontation with the play's Director.

Vijay Tendulkar's Marathi play "Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe" (Silence! The Court Is in Session) (1963) draws inspiration from a conversation overheard on a Mumbai local train. The play revolves around a group of teachers staging a play in a village. A mock trial reveals a scandalous secret about one of the cast members, leading to unexpected twists and revelations.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 45

Match List I with List II

List I (Work) List II (Author/Critic)
A. Culture and Environment I. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
B. Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics II. F R Leavis and D Thompson
C. The Cultural Turn: Selected Writings on the Postmodern, 1983-1998 III. Fredric Jameson
D. The Uses of Literacy IV. Richard Hoggart

Choose the Correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 2. A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV

In 1933 Leavis published For Continuity, which was a selection of Scrutiny essays. This publication, along with Culture and the Environment (a joint effort with Denys Thompson), stressed the importance of an informed and discriminating, highly trained intellectual elite.

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak FBA (born 24 February 1942) is an Indian scholar, literary theorist, and feminist critic. She wrote In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. Routledge. 2006 [1987].

The Cultural Turn: Selected Writings on the Postmodern, 1983-1998 by Fredric Jameson

The Uses of Literacy is a book written by Richard Hoggart and published in 1957, examining the influence of mass media in the United Kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main goal of Macaulay's 1835 Minutes on Indian Education?

Thomas Macaulay's famous 1835 Minutes aimed to create an anglicised class of Indians who were "Indian by blood but English by taste," acting as intermediaries between the British rulers and the native population.

Which prominent Indian playwright was influenced by the Yakshagana tradition?

Girish Karnad heavily utilised the Yakshagana folk theatre form in his plays, most notably in "Hayavadana" (1971), blending traditional Indian folk elements with modern theatrical techniques.

What is the "play within a play" motif in Indian drama?

This motif is famously used in Vijay Tendulkar's "Silence! The Court is in Session" (1963), where a group of teachers staging a mock trial during a rehearsal uncover deep, real-life secrets about one of the cast members.

Who wrote "The Man of Dharma and the Rasa of Silence"?

It was written by Purushottama Lal (P. Lal), an influential Indian poet, translator, and founder of the Writers Workshop in Calcutta.

Tags: UGC NET English, Indian Writing in English, Previous Year Questions, Indian Drama, Postcolonial Literature, June 2023 | Published: May 11, 2026

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